Brief chase leads Chico police to arrest suspect in truck theft

CHICO -- A suspect in a stolen pickup led police on a brief vehicle and foot chase Friday in southwest Chico before being taken into custody at an apartment complex.

Edward Hodge, a 25-year-old transient, allegedly stole a blue 1994 Dodge Dakota truck from the 11000 block of the Midway at about 8 a.m. Friday.

It appears he earlier stole a bicycle at Chico State University and rode it to the Midway location.

At about 9:25 a.m., police received a call from a friend of the truck's owner who had seen the pickup and was following it up Dayton Road toward Chico, said Sgt. Curtis Prosise.

Officer Jobe Sandhagen spotted the truck driving eastbound on West Ninth Street at the railroad tracks.

Two more patrol cars joined on West Ninth near Broadway, and they attempted to stop Hodge at Ninth and Main streets, Prosise said.

Hodge acted like he was going to stop, but suddenly turned southbound, driving across the bridge onto Park Avenue.

At West 11th Street, Hodge turned right and accelerated, blowing through stop signs, Prosise said.

The pursuit was called off for safety reasons once he turned into the residential area, but moments later, Sandhagen heard a loud vehicle at the south dead end of Ivy Street.

Hodge was driving in circles trying to look for a place to go, Prosise said. He didn't appear to be familiar with the area.

He crashed into bushes and the truck got stuck in mud. At that point officers drew their guns and ordered him to stop, Prosise said. Hodge jumped out of the truck and ran, but officers chased him into the Pine Tree Apartment complex and arrested him.

In the back of the truck, officers found the bicycle that had been reported stolen from Chico State, Prosise said. It was returned to its owner.

It was Dustin Thompson, 21, who first spotted the stolen truck when Hodge pulled up next to him at a stoplight on Dayton Road.

He learned the truck had been stolen after its owner, Michael Tarter, 27, posted it on Facebook.

Thompson was tempted to get out of the car and "jerk him out," but the light turned green, he said. He called 9-1-1 and followed the truck for four to five miles until he saw police show up.

Tarter didn't think the truck would be found, he said. It has a lot of sentimental value because it had belonged to his brother, David Tarter, who died June 8, 2012, in a race car accident at the Silver Dollar Speedway.

"When I heard it was crashed, my heart sank," Tarter said. "I thought it was totaled."

Damage to the truck was minimal, he said. The lower control arm is bent and it has some scratches.

Hodge put 30 miles on it.

Hodge had a warrant for his arrest from San Bernardino County, according to a Chico police press release. He was booked into Butte County Jail in Oroville.

Hodge was charged with vehicle theft, evading a peace officer, possession of stolen property, driving under the influence, resisting a peace officer, reckless driving and driving without a license, according to the release.

His bail for the Butte County charges is $92,000, and $100,000 for the San Bernardino County warrant.